Abstract:
Sri Lanka has one of the highest suicide rates in the world. Only a few studies have looked at prevalence of
suicidal ideation in general population and no studies were done among hospitalized patients. This study was
conducted to find the prevalence of suicidal ideation and study its associated factors in a sample of hospitalized
adult patients. A descriptive cross sectional co relational survey was conducted among 294 randomly selected adult patients
admitted to general medical, general surgical and seven special units of Teaching Hospital Karapitiya. Suicidal
ideation during the past week was assessed by using the validated Sinhala translation of Beck Scale for suicidal
ideation, a 19-item self-report instrument for detecting and measuring the current intensity of the patient's
attitudes, behaviors, and plans to commit suicide. Demographic data and diagnoses were also obtained. In the sample, 59.9% were females, 66% were below 50 years, 74.5% had studied up to grade 11 and 55.4% had
monthly income above Rs. 10,000. Majority were Sinhala (92.5%) Buddhists (87.1%).
One hundred and six (46%) patients had suicidal ideation. Of them, 53 (50%) had passive suicidal ideation and
15 (14.15%) had severe active suicidal ideation. From those with suicidal ideation, 52.8% had cancers and
18.9% had functional disabilities. Most of them (69.8%) had at least one co-morbidity and 52.8% were receiving
surgical care.
Suicidal ideation was significantly high in 50-60-year age group (32.1 %, IQR=21, Median=6), who had monthly
income of Rs. 10,000-20,000 (46.2%, IQR=20, Median=5), who had more than one co-morbidity (48.1%,
IQR=17, Median=8) and those who had cancer (52.8%, IQR=17, Median=22). There was no association with
gender, educational level, type of treatment and duration of hospitalization.
